German media all say the same thing about Jobe Bellingham’s Champions League display — and for once, it’s largely positive. The 20-year-old midfielder produced his best showing yet in a Dortmund shirt, recording two assists in a 4-2 win over Copenhagen to finally quieten his critics.
Bellingham had been under heavy scrutiny following his error-strewn cameo against Bayern Munich, when his failed clearance deflected into Michael Olise for the winning goal. It was a moment that typified a rocky start to life in Germany after leaving Sunderland. Yet manager Niko Kovac kept faith in the youngster, handing him another start — a decision that paid off handsomely in Denmark.
German media agree: a “convincing” performance from Bellingham
Ran rated Bellingham 2/5, praising his decisive involvement in two key moments.
“Dortmund’s ‘problem boy’ receives Kovac’s trust in Copenhagen, starts in place of Sabitzer, and is certainly convincing… he was directly involved in two key moments, providing the assist for Nmecha’s 1-0 goal and for Silva’s 4-1 goal.”
Sport1 echoed the praise with a 2.5/5, highlighting his growing confidence and composure.
“Clearly on the up! He made his unfortunate move from the weekend a thing of the past… tried not to make any mistakes, without taking any major risks. Overall, a very decent performance.”
Meanwhile, Spox was slightly harsher with a 3/5, acknowledging the progress but noting the occasional lapse.
“He got off to a good start… but the equalizer brought back memories of the Bayern game… All in all, a step in the right direction.”
Despite the mixed nuances, all outlets agreed that Bellingham’s display showed tangible progress — composure on the ball, sharper decision-making, and growing chemistry with teammates.
Kovac praises Bellingham’s maturity
Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac was quick to highlight the midfielder’s contribution after the match. Speaking to DAZN, he said the youngster had been “very good” and instrumental in the second-half turnaround.
“I have to single out Jobe (Bellingham) because he had a very good game today. We were too slow in the first half, but he reacted perfectly after the break. The team did very well in the second half.” — Niko Kovac, via DAZN
Bellingham’s stats vs Copenhagen
| Stat (Champions League – 21 Oct 2025) | Jobe Bellingham |
|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 90 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Key Passes | 2 |
| Shots | 1 |
| Touches | 61 |
source: Sofascore match data – 22 October 2025
After ten appearances without a goal or assist, those numbers marked a major step forward. It was the first time Bellingham had directly influenced multiple goals in a single match for Dortmund.
Our View
In our view, this was the performance Bellingham desperately needed. His technical ability has never been questioned, but confidence and decision-making have lagged behind. By delivering under European lights, he’s shown resilience after weeks of criticism — something that will endear him to both teammates and supporters.
Tactically, Kovac’s trust to play him as a box-to-box link between Felix Nmecha and Emre Can worked perfectly. Bellingham’s energy, combined with his willingness to make forward runs, gave Dortmund a new dimension that had been missing in earlier fixtures.
Analyst Verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William believes Bellingham’s turnaround reflects strong man-management from Kovac. “I think Niko Kovac handled him brilliantly,” he says. “Leaving him in after the Bayern mistake sent a clear message — that the club believes in him. Performances like this show the kid’s got character.”
In my view, Bellingham’s next task is consistency. The technical level is there; now he needs to deliver every week to silence speculation about his future in Germany.
Key Insights
- Jobe Bellingham earns praise from German media after Dortmund’s 4-2 win at Copenhagen.
- The 20-year-old recorded two assists — his first goal involvements of the season.
- Outlets Ran, Sport1 and Spox all noted progress despite earlier criticism.
- Niko Kovac hailed the midfielder’s maturity and work rate post-match.
- Bellingham beginning to justify his £30m move from Sunderland.
What’s Next
Borussia Dortmund face Koln in the Bundesliga on 25 October before meeting Manchester City in their next Champions League fixture on 5 November. Another strong performance could cement Bellingham’s starting role heading into a crucial winter stretch.
👉 Can Jobe Bellingham turn his Champions League spark into a sustained Dortmund breakthrough?
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